Whitmire’s $127,000 grant-funded trash truck arrived Nov. 2 and the grant-funded trash carts will soon arrive at homes.

First, the carts needed assembly so Whitmire students in the student council and Beta Club put around 240 carts together.

Whitmire Mayor Tim Carroll says the groups will probably return on a later Saturday and put together about 250 more carts.

“I think they did a real good job,” said Carroll.

The town will start giving carts out “probably around December first,” or at least by the first of the year, said Carroll. “I think we’ll be ready.”

TRASH EXPENSE

Though the town received $$134,000 in federal money for the trash aids, it still had to contribute $44,000 to be able to get the grant.

Plus, the town spends around 90 percent of the taxes it receives on garbage and brush pickup, said Carroll.

Garbage and brush pick up takes up 90 percent of our taxes

“It’s a big business now,” he said.

Though pricey, the town saves garbage costs with its new bigger-capacity truck that allows fewer trips to its Newberry dumpsite.

The truck saves the town fuel costs and one hour travel time, Carroll said.

Plus, with the new trash carts, outside animals will have a harder time getting into people’s trash, he said.

Councilman Dwight Lane added that the new cans hold seven or eight trash bags.

OTHER EXPENSES

—Whitmire tried for lower monthly payments on two 25-year-old Rural Development Association loans to no avail.

The town must still pay about $7,500 a month on the loans for water and sewer improvements from the mid-80s.

Carroll said the town should have the two loans paid off in 2023 and 2033.

“We’re still taking money out of savings,” Carroll said. “There was no refinancing available or anything like that.”

—For a year now, the Department of Health and Environmental Control has required the town to check its water for fecal matter, with “no hits,” said Carroll.

Because nothing has shown up, and because the test costs about $800 a month, Carroll will request DHEC’s permission to cancel the testing.

“It’s costing and there’s no hits,” he said.

—There is no word yet on who is responsible for repairing the decrepit wall that runs in front of St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Main Street.

Carroll said the state Highway Department visited the town to see if its department is responsible for the wall’s repair.

Left to itself, the wall could spell disaster for downtown.

“If it falls in, Main Street is going to wash out. Ain’t no doubt in my mind,” said Carroll last month.